Day 2 on Guntersville IV

Casey Ashley began the second day of the Guntersville Classic in 4th place. When you’re that high in the standings you smile and try to enjoy the interviews before takeoff.

Photo: Mark Hicks

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Professional saltwater angler George Mitchell has his slick Yamaha powered boat on display every morning. The freaky blue lights attracted fans like mosquitoes to a campfire.

Photo: Mark Hicks

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Tommy Biffle keeps his rods in his locker until he reaches his first fishing spot. He claims he does so to prevent his lines and lures from getting stiff during frigid morning boat rides. Funny, his rods were also in the locker when checked in and the temperature was a balmy 65 degrees. Hiding something Tommy?

Photo: Mark Hicks

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Fred Roumbanis caught the Big Bass on day one to put himself in contention. When you do that you wind up in front of cameras before takeoff.

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When you sack over 24 pounds of bass on day one of the Classic, as David Walker did, you go out the second day with a cameraman and wearing a microphone.

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Dave Mercer sends the Classic competitors on their way as only Dave Mercer can.

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Coby Carden started the second day in 6th place. His first stop was where he caught his biggest bass the first day. His cameraman adjusts his microphone. Carden is so pumped he doesn’t even know the guy is there.

Photo: Mark Hicks

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Carden is focused as he slings his bait.

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It takes only a few minutes of fishing to coax a hard strike from a good bass.

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Carden leans into the bass with bad intentions.

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Please don’t jump.

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Why won’t you listen to me?

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Come to poppa.

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What a way to start the day.

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Carden makes a second pass down the riprap bank that produced his first bass.

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When that fails to get another strike, Carden fires up and heads out.

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Casey Ashley started day two where he spent practically every minute of Day One.

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A fan comes out to the end of the dock for a closer look at what Ashley’s up to.

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Ashley fires a cast over the water that gave up more than 23 pounds of bass yesterday.

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Cliff Pirch is the only other angler that is fishing near Ashley. He boated this one early today.

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Pirch struggled on Day One. A true professional, he went at it hard on Day Two.

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Pirch works a jerkbait in open water.

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Ashley works a bass to the boat. He drops his Power Poles whenever he catches a bass, and sometimes while battling the bass.

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The bass is in no hurry to meet Ashley.

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Ashley calmly persists.

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Ashley forces the issue.

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Bass, like it or not, you get to meet bass pro angler Casey Ashley. It’s not personal.

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Ashley soon slams a good bass.

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It brings Ashley’s cameraman to his feet.

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This one is worth getting excited about.

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A quick show for the fans.

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Then it’s time to cull.

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After a long lull, Ashley nails another one.

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This one isn’t worth getting excited about.

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Ashley applies the muscle...

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...and hauls the pipsqueak aboard.

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Late in the day Ashley bounced around and tried different water hoping to connect with a kicker.

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A bass nailed Ashley’s jig when he pitched it into a laydown.

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The bass hung up in the wood. Is it a good one? Ashley motors to the tree to retrieve the bass.

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It finally pops free and says, “only foolin’.”

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Ashley motors back to his primary water where he burned his final hour of time.

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Ashley dropped his Power Poles when his GPS told him was on one of his sweet spots.

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Please be a kicker.

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Getting tired of seeing babies.

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Let me have my bait back.

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The sweet spot gives up one more keeper. It allows Ashley to cull up a few more ounces.